Because council is actually going to be weighing in on some pretty important things. First up, the Hill hotel project, which has appeared before council six(!) times since 2015.
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Here's where things were left the last time council had a chat on this, in April. With one update: The project today will have ZERO city funding for any bike/bus/pedestrian upgrades.https://boulderbeat.news/2019/04/23/in-late-addition-to-agenda-council-will-weigh-hill-hotel-negotiations/ …
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There aren't details of the pending sale in tonight's packet; it's more or less a recap for new council members. But I'm told council has received or will soon receive that info privately (since negotiations are still ongoing).
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It's coming back to council in March(?) for concept review, so we'll have more details by then.
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After that, council will talk micro mobility. Staff wants to allow shared e-bikes but not e-scooters, citing safety data and other concerns. Some boards and commissions, plus the Chamber and Community Cycles, disagree.https://boulderbeat.news/2020/01/25/transportation-staff-to-council-dont-allow-e-scooters-in-boulder/ …
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Those groups want to see at least a pilot project in places like East Boulder, where there aren't many other options. Wouldn't be surprised to see that, but I think staff and council will make a good case against them altogether.
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Part 2 of that discussion will be on funding for B-Cycle, which is going bankrupt after kaiser Permanente pulled out as a sponsor last year.
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There *was* a discussion on hemp cultivation and extraction planned but they bumped it to make these first two longer.
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We're getting started — again on time — and Mary Young is leading, per the change made at the recent retreat where study session leadership will rotate among (willing) council members.
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A quick(ish) recap of council action on Hill hotel since I've been around: Sept. 2018: Set to OK joint development of hotel and parking garage; delayed amid ownership disagreements Delayed again; pushed off council November agenda due to scheduling conflicts
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Jan 2019: Staff proposed no joint development, selling parking lot to hotel developers instead, bc the parking garage was SO expensivehttps://boulderbeat.news/2019/01/10/another-path-proposed-for-uni-hill-hotel-parking-garage/ …
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City was to put in $3M for site upgrades, subsidy, etc. Council asked for more study on supposed benefitshttps://boulderbeat.news/2019/01/22/council-again-delays-go-no-go-vote-on-hill-hotel-parking-development/ …
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Study came out in August; best long-term optionhttps://boulderbeat.news/2019/08/24/report-hotel-wouldnt-bring-most-jobs-revenue-to-hill-but-is-best-option-for-long-term-benefits/ …
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April 23, divided council decided to begin negotiations to sell the Pleasant Street parking lot to developershttps://boulderbeat.news/2019/04/23/in-late-addition-to-agenda-council-will-weigh-hill-hotel-negotiations/ …
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Some history on the Hill as a commercial area = three blocks (1/10 size of downtown) 1970: Hill property owners created University Hill General Improvement District Today, $35,000 in UHGID property taxes UHGID owns 2 parking lots: Pleasant Street/Broadway + 14th/College Avenue
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110 spots; bring in $150,00 in annual revenue City council is UHGID board of directors With University Hill Commercial Area Management Commission (UHCAMC), which serves as advisors
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We're watching a video on this history now. Actually pretty cute; wish I had a link for you.
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Today, the Hill commercial area has 10% retail vacancy (vs. 8% downtown) 18% rent-to-sales ratio (vs. 15% downtown; rule of thumb for health is 10% or less)
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Council 2014-2016 had Hill reinvestment as a priority
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2015 consultant report made three recommendations: 1. Address perception or reality of insufficient parking 2. Clean up and beautify rundown parts of Hill 3. Leverage five under-developed parcels to create “anchor” for year-round customers to serve as catalysts
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Millions of $$ in student housing 2011-2013 didn’t help bc Hill need more than students for customers
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Also, staff / biz owners believe that tighter Hill liquor laws (passed in 2014) discourages restaurants from locating there: Must close by 11 p.m., be no bigger than 4,000 sq ft, get 50% of sales from food
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Pretty full chambers for a study session.
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I'm tucked in the back like always, but for an extra reason this time: I'm sick. So don't come say hi if you're here, unless you want what is possibly the coronavirus but more likely just a common cold.
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Sarah Wiebenson, Hill community development coordinator, is going over the study I referenced earlier and provided a link to. It analyzed a few different "options" for redevelopment, even though there's only one project on the table for real right now.
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I forgot this, but also from that study: The hotel will almost certainly not have enough parking. It will relay on the planned CU hotel/conference center that might be constructed across the street. The hotel could share that garage.
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Here's that link again: https://boulderbeat.news/2019/08/24/report-hotel-wouldnt-bring-most-jobs-revenue-to-hill-but-is-best-option-for-long-term-benefits/ … I felt staff last time downplayed exactly how few parking spaces would be left over at the hotel after employees, guests.
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But it's hard to tell intent from a written report. We'll see what they say tonight.
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The application for a concept plan was submitted this week by hotel developers to the Planning Board.
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Council can link the sale of the Pleasant Street parking lot to the final approval of the hotel, so they can make sure it looks like what they want it to.
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Čini se da učitavanje traje već neko vrijeme.
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